A Malheur County felon was handed 45 months behind bars for toting a loaded revolver and stashing meth — a reckless combo that ended with a midnight foot chase near Ontario’s railroad tracks. Shawn James Franks Claytor, 27, of Nyssa, Oregon, was sentenced on January 18, 2017, by U.S. District Judge Ann Aiken in federal court in Eugene.
The trouble started just after 1:00 a.m. on June 29, 2015, when a local officer spotted Claytor and another man loitering near the rails — past his 10:00 p.m. curfew and deep in a high-crime zone. When approached, Claytor bolted. In his panic, he ditched a loaded .22 caliber revolver and a bag of methamphetamine. Cops recovered the evidence minutes later, cold and damning.
Claytor was apprehended later that day and wasted no time admitting he’d owned both the gun and the drugs. Worse, he confessed to trying to sell them. That admission slammed the door on any defense. As a prior convicted felon — nailed in Oregon for first-degree burglary — he wasn’t allowed within 100 yards of a firearm, let alone selling one laced with meth.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Ontario Police Department led the investigation, piecing together the discard site, the chase, and Claytor’s criminal history. Their joint work ensured federal charges stuck, bypassing state court and pushing the case into tougher sentencing territory.
Nathan J. Lichvarcik, Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Oregon, prosecuted the case with support from the Malheur County District Attorney’s Office. The feds didn’t blink — pushing for maximum accountability given Claytor’s status and intent to distribute.
After serving his 45-month sentence, Claytor will face three years of supervised release — a leash, but not freedom. The message from the DOJ is clear: felons with guns don’t get second chances on federal time.
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